The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1887-01-13

vi Ei ny yoT yesterday -orO"Hueu out up
the river-and kinder thought O. Johnny,
and how he'd miss ZEN! Maybe now, we'd
be in the way Of he wus sicks" - 49,
The father, evidently touched not only by
this pathetic picture of Johnny's deprivation,
but by the considerable delicacy of the speaker,
FASTENED to assure him that Johnny was better
and that "little fun might 'liven him up"
Whcreupon Dick arose, shook himself, and
saying, "I'm ready. Lead the way, Old Man;
here goes" himself led the way with a leap,
a characteristic howl, and dorted out into the
night. As he passed through tho outer roor,
he caught up blazing brand from the beartb.
Ths action was repeated by the rest of the
party, closely following and elbowing each
o her, and before the astonished proprietor Of
Thonlpsons grocery was aware OF the inten.
ton OF his guests, the room was deserted.
Tho night was pitchy dark. In the first
gust Of wind their temporary torches were
cxtiususl,e'l, and only the red brands dane
ing and hitting In the gloom Ike drunken
will wsps indicated their whereabouts.
Their way lel up Pine Tres canyon, at tho
heal OF which broal, low, bark matched
cabin burrowed in the mountain side. 1t
was the home of the Old Man, and the en-
trance to the tu.iiiel in which he worked
when he worked at all. Here the crowd
paused for a moment, out Of delicate defer
encc to their host, WHO came up painting in
the rear. .-.
"Praps ycd better hold Oh second out
yer, whilst | so in and sec thee things is all
right" said the Old Man, with an intii.fer-
cnce he was far from feeling. Tie sugges-
ton was graciously accepted, the door opened
and closed on the host. and the crowtl, lean
ing their backs against the wall and COVER
ing under the caves, waited and listened.
For few moments there was 40 sound but
the dripping of water from the caves, anil tic
stir and rustic of wrestling bougils above
thom. Then the men became uneasy, and
whispered suggestion and suspicion passed
from the one to the other. "R cckon sbes
caved in his head the first lickm "Decoyed
him inter tho tunnel and barred him up,
likely" SCOT him down and sittin' on him.
"Prob'ly bilin suthm to iIcavc Oh us; stand
clear the door, boys!' For just then the
voice said, Come in out o the wet"
Tho voice Yves neither that of tie Old Man
nor Of his wife, 1t was the voice of q small
boy, its weak treble broken by that prefer
natural hoarseness which only vagabondage
and the habit of premature self assertion Gu
give. 1t was the face Of a small boy that
looke.l up at theirs-a face tLas might have
L., "a
darkened by evil knowledge from within and
dirt and hard experience from without. lie
had a blanket around bis shoulders and had
evidently just risen from his bed, Come
In" he repeated, land don't make no noise
The OH Mans in there talking to mar" he
continued, pointing to an adjacent room
which seemed to be kitchen, from which The
Old Mans voice came in deprecating accents
"Let me be-" he added, ENORMOUSLY, to Dick
Bu!len, who had caught him up, blanket end
all, and was affecting to toss him into the
fire, "let go o. me, you id old fool, dye We
hcarf" .~-
Thus adjurcd, Dick Bullen lowered Johnny
to tho ground with sElothered hugh wbile
the men, entering quietly, ranged themselves
around long table Of rough boards
which occupied the center of the
room. johnny then gravely pro-
ceeded to q cupboard and brought out several
articles which he deposited on the table.
sThar's whisky. And crackers. And red
herons. And cheese He took bite of the
latter OIL his way to the table. "And sugar"
lie scooped up mouthful en- route with
small and very dirty hand. sand terbacker.s
Tbar's dried appils, too, on the shelf, but 1
doa't admire 'em. Appils is swellin'. Thar"
he concluded, "now wade in, and don't be
sfeard, Idop't mind the old woman. She
don't b'long to me. S'long."
He had stepped to the threshold of a small
room, scarcely larger than closet, and hold
ing in its dim recess a small bed. He stood
there mohent looking at the company, his
bare feet peeping from the blanket, and
nodded. s.....r.......s.. ~.
@Hello, Johnny! You amt goin' to turn in
agin, are yer said Dick ssA
ayes, I are, > responded Johnny, decidedly.
aWhy, wot's up, old fellowF
SIN Sick"
"How sickg go 4.lH
NI've got FEWER. And chilblains And
rooniatiz," returned Johnny, and vanished
within. After moments pause he added in
the dark, apparently from under the bed
clothes, "And biles."
There was an embarrassing silence The
men looked at each other, and at The fire.
Even with the appetizing banquet before
| them it seemed as il they might again fan
into the dependency Of Tlrompsons grocery,
when the voice of the Old Man, incactio;sly
lifted, came deprecatingly from the kitchen:
Certainly! Thets. 50. In course they Is.
A gang o lazy, drunken loafers, and that ar
Dick Bullen's the ornariest of all. Didn't
hev no more sabe than to come round var
with sickness in the house and no provision.
Thet's what said. 'Bullen,' SEE /, it's crazy
drunk you are, or a fool, SEE ], ito think o.
such thing Staples seq, BE you man,
Staples, aud 'srect to raise hi under my
roof, and inyalids lynn roundf But they
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